Tremble...tremble...tremble..., Controlling nerves Options

[Cellona]

Hi everyone!

Just had a students' concert on Sunday. As usual, they braved their way up stage to perform with many of them making mistakes that they do not usually make in class.

Reminded them to breathe 'consciously' when they feel nervous. Did success visualisation with them. Asked them to imagine playing at home when on stage etc....

People tell me that the more times a pianist plays on stage, the more calm she/he will be. I've a pupil who has been performing at least 2 concerts per year for the last 6 years still made many mistakes & stumbles on Sunday. Could anyone share with me what I've missed out? What do you usually tell your pupils to think psychologically before a performance or exam?

A pupil can play so well in class & once on stage, the whole piece goes hay-wired.

[Car Expert]

I'm not a teacher, but I would suggest that they eat a banana before the concert, as they help to calm down their nerves. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Do a search on Nerves (Search [Top of page]), as there have been a lot of topics regarding calming down nerves.

Car Expert

[Cellona]

Wow! This sounds interesting!? Will do the search later. But I think controlling nerves when performing piano may be a little different. Thanks anyway! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[kerioboe]

People tell me that the more times a pianist plays on stage, the more calm she/he will be. I've a pupil who has been performing at least 2 concerts per year for the last 6 years still made many mistakes & stumbles on Sunday.

I think this is basically true but you need to take into account how extreme the nerves where when the person first started.

As a teenager, I used to be often physically sick before performing a solo piece in a concert (no way could I have eaten a banana just before playing!). I found playing the piano marginally better than the violin as at least you get to sit down. When I returned to playing as an adult almost twenty years later I was convinced that I would have got over nerves as I had taught in a school for years and so was used to standing up in front of people. However, although I didn't feel nervous hours before hand, when I was standing about to start all the old symptoms (except being sick) came back and I played abysmally (out of tune, running out of breath before the end of the phrase etc.) So, yes I am calmer but not calm enough.

The only time I have played satisfactorily since I have taken up playing again was in a trio - there is safety in numbers!

Perhaps you could try asking your pupil to accompany. I used to play better as an accompanist - I used to play much better when I was accompanying, probably because I thought people were more interested in the soloist than me.

[Saxophonist]

I have been put through every concert weve had at school whilst I have been there, playing solos infront of everyone. My nerves seemed to get better and I wasnt nevous at all coming up to the performance, however just as the piano started I went, legs shaking, unable to breath properly, playing terribly. This seems to happen everytime I play infront of anyone! (even my music class at school, or even a solo in band thats only a few bars)

[nicki_flute]

Well I thought my nerves were getting better. At the previous concert to tonight's, I had been really relaxed and played the best I ever have. The least said about tonight's performance, the better. Was utter rubbish, couldn't breathe and shook. I am supposed to be alright at playing as well...

[miochy]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I have always suffered from nerves when performing.

My kids were in a concert recently, and their teacher wanted me to contribute. I said 'no' because my I knew it would ruin the whole occasion for me because I would get in too much of a state.

A few years ago I played the piano for my daughter's Nativity concert in front of 400 parents. That was a big enough deal for me...and I nearly stopped playing the opening theme, but managed to collect myself.

Strange thing was, once I was underway and near the end, I was so chilled and calm I was actually enjoying playing in front of everyone.

Whether all this is due to me not having much experience playing in front of an audience as a child...well, I'm not so sure now!

[Violinia]

It's completely normal to suffer nerves when performing in public! Only the very thick-skinned, or show-offs, or very extraverted people, or extremely experienced perfomers manage to play without nerves - and an attack can afflict at any time even then!

The better prepared you are the less likely an attack will affect your playing; ever heard the saying:

an amateur practises until they can play it right
a professional practises untl they can't play it wrong

very true!

I used to get horribly nervous - at our local music festival when I was about 10 I remember my knee developing a violent twitch that wouldn't stop through the whole performance. Aaargh! I used to get echoes of it for years, until one day - bam! Nerves gone! I think it was after an accident when I thought I'd never get to play live again. I was so happy to get back on stage I suddenly realised it was where I felt most at home, and the nerves have now gone. For now. Because who knows?

I do think generally the more you do it the easier it gets, and the more on top of the music you are the more relaxed you will be. So practise like mad, but not too much on the day (you'll get yourself too wound up if you start making mistakes an hour before you go on). Then just tell yourself the audience are rooting for you and want you to get it right, and that life's too short to spoil the whole experience for yourself by having a bad time. Or something.

Violinia

[sarah-flute]

Some people will have bad nerves however well they know the music, unfortunately... however good prep can mean that this won't adversely affect your playing too much (last flute exam I did, I was so nervous I could barely think, but fortunately being very well prepared meant that my brain didn't need to take too much interest in what I was doing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)) - it's worth getting yourself used to nerves by performing in front of family or friends, or using pressure games - training yourself to play despite the nerves rather than necessarily getting rid of them which may not be possible. THEN if you can reduce your nerves it's just a bonus, as you know you can play even if they appear.

[organist_katy]

I can never play violin solos in orchestra concerts, because nervousness makes my bow arm tremble, and it sounds awful. One of the reasons I prefer piano and organ. Oh, and in the organ at my church, you can't actually be seen by about three-quarters of the people in the church, so that makes me feel much better (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Really, everyone's said before what I was going to say.... but I suppose the more you perform, the less nervous you get. Having said that, if it's a really big concert, you're still going to be really nervous, no matter how many times you've played before.

[Violinia]

Some people will have bad nerves however well they know the music, unfortunately... however good prep can mean that this won't adversely affect your playing too much (last flute exam I did, I was so nervous I could barely think, but fortunately being very well prepared meant that my brain didn't need to take too much interest in what I was doing ) - it's worth getting yourself used to nerves by performing in front of family or friends, or using pressure games - training yourself to play despite the nerves rather than necessarily getting rid of them which may not be possible. THEN if you can reduce your nerves it's just a bonus, as you know you can play even if they appear.

That's true. However, I think it does all get better as you get older. You know what they say about: in your 20's you're still growing up, in your 30's you're working out who you are, and by your 40's you've begun to feel comfortable with yourself. In your 50's - well, wait and see (I should know)!

I used to feel OK playing in front of a bunch of strangers, but got a bit wound up if there were people I knew very well in the audience. Even that bit has got better now, thank god. The only thing that still gets to me is if the front row of a (large) audience is too close, like a couple of feet away, and all staring up at me with blank faces. That's a bit intimidating (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) I like them a bit further back and preferably sitting around tables with wine, rather than in severe rows, but you can't pick and choose.

But anyway, believe me, it all gets so much better as you get older. You end up just not worrying what they think, and just playing your heart out because - because that's what you do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Violinia

[sbhoa]

So my next birthday might cure it?

[SuzyMac]

Argh, heck! I have another 26 years to go!! I am still getting progressively more nervous about performing. I think I think about it too much.

[sarah-flute]

That's true. However, I think it does all get better as you get older. You know what they say about: in your 20's you're still growing up, in your 30's you're working out who you are, and by your 40's you've begun to feel comfortable with yourself. In your 50's - well, wait and see (I should know)!

So in 12 1/2 years I'll begin to be OK, and give me 22 and I'll be fine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

In the meantime I guess I have to stick to attempting to reduce nerves and getting used to the ones I can't cure!

In a way it's actually got worse as I've got older - but I think that's lack of practice at playing for people. Used to happen to some extent all the time, playing or singing in groups or on my own. Which is one of the reasons I'd recommend people getting as much practice doing it as they can - familiarity may not breed contempt but I think it makes things easier!!! The two exams I've done recently were both horribly nerve-wracking even though I have been far better prepared than ever before... they used to be much more run of the mill as I was doing them every couple of years probably.

But anyway, believe me, it all gets so much better as you get older. You end up just not worrying what they think, and just playing your heart out because - because that's what you do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I think you've hit the nail on the head - if you don't worry what people think, then it's a lot less stressful!

[estherclaire]

Argh, heck! I have another 26 years to go!! I am still getting progressively more nervous about performing. I think I think about it too much.

Hi Suzy...
From your signature you're a medical student?
How do u spare time between studying, teaching, and learning?
What do u wanna do as a career?
Tell me your secret!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)